Appointment Policy
We prefer to schedule our patients for appointments, in order to give us enough time for each patient. We see appointments Monday-Friday starting at 8am-5:00 pm and two Saturdays a month starting at 8am-11:45 am. However, as a convenience for our clients, we also offer same day drop-off appointments. This allows you to drop your pet off with us for a doctor to examine in between appointments. Please call us today at 940-380-9393 to schedule your pet’s appointment.
Pet Arrival Policy
For the safety of your pet and other patients, all dogs must be on a leash and properly controlled while in the clinic. All cats must arrive in an appropriate carrier.
Payment Policy
We require full payment at the time that services are rendered. For your convenience, we accept cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Debit, and Care Credit. We no longer accept personal or business checks.
Prescription Medication Policy
Prescription Refills. We are happy to attempt to refill any prescriptions your pet may need; please call us with as much advance notice as possible. We are able to fill most prescriptions same day, but occasionally we need a few days notice if we have to special order your pet’s prescription.
We do not recommend purchasing your pet’s medications from unknown online pharmacies. Please talk with us first before purchasing your pet’s medications from another source. We try our best to keep our prices competitive with online pharmacies.
Are you open Saturdays?
Yes, we are open two Saturdays a month from 8am-12:00 pm for appointments starting no later than 11:45 am. Call today to find out which Saturdays we are open this month!
What vaccines does my pet need?
Vaccines are an important part of your pet’s health care and can help protect your pet against serious, transmissible diseases. However, every pet is an individual, and we tailor our vaccine recommendations to your pet’s age and lifestyle, among other factors. By state law, every pet is required to be current on their rabies vaccination.
How often does my pet need to be vaccinated against rabies?
Due to the high rate of rabies in this area, all dogs and cats must be vaccinated yearly. Please report any of the
following symptoms, if you notice them to your veterinarian or local animal control officer:
Wild animals which seem to be friendly or tame.
Wild animals–coyotes, foxes, bats, skunks, and raccoons–which you do not usually see in the daytime.
Animals that have a hard time walking, eating, or drinking.
Excitement or meanness in animals.
Animals that bite or scratch at an old wound until it bleeds.
Do not approach any animals that are wild or present any of these symptoms. Please report them to the Denton Animal Control at (940) 349-1600.
How can I stop my pet from getting fleas?
In addition to causing tapeworms in pets, many pets are extremely allergic to the saliva of fleas, causing itching and hair loss. We recommend all dogs and cats be given monthly flea preventative year-round. There are many medications for the treatment and prevention of fleas, including oral pills and topical liquids. Many products also cover heartworms and intestinal parasites in addition to fleas, so you often only need to use one product!
What is heartworm prevention and how long should my pet be on heartworm prevention medication?
Heartworms are exactly what they sound like – large worms that lodge in the hearts of dogs and cats. They are transmitted by mosquitoes, and if left untreated, can lead to heart failure and death. Heartworm prevention is normally administered once a month either by pill or by topical application. Heartworms are a year-round problem in the DFW area, and so we recommend all dogs and cats be given monthly heartworm preventative year-round.
My pet is indoor only. Do they really need heartworm prevention?
Yes. Pets get heartworm disease from mosquito bites, and mosquitoes can easily get indoors. Even if your dog is only outside to go to the bathroom or your cat never goes outside, heartworm prevention is necessary. Approximately ⅓ of cats infected with heartworms are indoor only.
Why does my dog need a heartworm test before I can purchase heartworm prevention?
We recommend testing every dog for heartworm disease annually, and before starting your pet on any heartworm prevention. This is done by a quick, simple blood test. We test frequently to hopefully make sure that we catch any cases of heartworm disease as early as possible. Even if your dog has been on heartworm preventative all year, the possibility exists that your dog could still get infected (i.e. missed doses of preventative, pet spit out the heartworm pill, topical preventative not applied correctly, etc.). The earlier we catch any cases of heartworm disease, the more favorable the prognosis for treatment.
How can I tell if my pet is in pain?
It can sometimes be difficult to tell since our pets cannot tell us what’s wrong. Some signs of pain can be as vague as hiding more, not eating as much, or just not acting like themselves. If you suspect that your pet may be in pain, please schedule an appointment so we can examine your pet. If left untreated, subtle signs of discomfort can turn into obvious signs of pain, so seeing your pet sooner can normally help us prevent serious illness or injury.
Why does my pet need his/her teeth cleaned?
Just like humans, pets accumulate tartar on their teeth. But most pets don’t get their teeth brushed daily, and so bacteria and tartar build up over time, creating serious dental disease. Dental disease often starts off as bad breath but can progress to a point where your pet may stop wanting to eat due to dental discomfort. If not treated, dental disease can cause tooth abscesses, tooth loss, and can also contribute to body-wide infections such as heart disease. Call us today at 940-380-9393 to schedule a dental exam for your pet so we can talk to you about options for dental health.
When should I get my pet spayed or neutered?
We generally recommend spaying and neutering every non-breeding pet around 6 months of age. This recommendation varies between individual pets, so please schedule an appointment with a veterinarian to discuss your pet’s individual needs.
Are there special instructions for my pet before they undergo surgery?
Please do not feed your pet after 10:00 p.m. the evening before a scheduled procedure. There is no restriction on drinking water. Unless told otherwise by a staff member, please have your pet at the clinic between 8 am and 8:30 am the day of surgery.
Why does my pet need to be at the clinic several hours before surgery?
In order to make the surgical process as smooth as possible, your pet will receive the following when he/she arrives the morning of surgery:
Exam before anesthesia
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork (if elected by owner) to make sure he/she is a good candidate for anesthesia.
Medication before anesthesia to make anesthetic induction go more smoothly.
IV catheter placement to ensure access for fluids and medications before, during and after surgery.
Is my pet safe to anesthetize?
At Denton Veterinary Center, we take anesthetic procedures very seriously and do our best to make anesthesia as safe as possible for all of our patients. Our doctors recommend pre-anesthetic bloodwork on the day of surgery to make sure your pet is a good anesthetic candidate that day. Additionally, this bloodwork can help us tailor an anesthetic plan specifically to your pet’s needs. We offer a combination of injectable anesthetics as well as gas anesthesia for procedures, and we use a multimodal approach to anesthesia and pain control. When we anesthetize patients, we use an endotracheal tube which is placed in their trachea to administer gas anesthetic as well as pure oxygen. Additionally, all anesthetized patients have IV catheters placed prior to surgery, which allows us to give them fluids and medications if needed during the procedure. We also closely monitor your pet’s heart rate, respiration, and ECG while under anesthesia.
When can my pet go home after surgery?
Most of our surgical cases go home the same day unless otherwise specified by a staff member. We will give you a call when your pet is ready to go home following surgery. We are open until 5:30 pm Monday-Friday, and so we ask that you please pick up your pet before 5 pm so we can go over discharge instructions with you before we close for the day.
How often should my pet have an exam?
Denton Veterinary Center recommends yearly visits for most pets and older pets coming in more frequently – at least every 6 months. Yearly exams include physical examinations by our veterinarians plus annual vaccinations or booster vaccinations, parasite screening & prevention and various lab tests performed. For puppies and kittens, we need to see them on a more frequent schedule during their first year of life. For pets over age 7, we recommend exams and blood work every 6 months to help us detect diseases and issues before they become a problem
How safe is my pet’s procedure?
Our veterinarians take every precaution to make sure your pet comes out of any procedure, whether major or minor, on the way to a swift recovery. To ensure your pet’s safety, we provide round-the-clock care and monitoring for all surgical patients during business hours. We perform all pet surgeries under anesthesia and advocate the use of pre-anesthetic blood work to detect any underlying disease that may affect the response to anesthesia. With your pet’s comfort and safety at the forefront, we utilize pain management protocols before, during, and after surgery until they are completely recovered. This includes monitoring of vital signs, assessing your pet for pain indicators and keeping them well fed, warm and comfortable in their surroundings.
Why does my pet need a dental cleaning?
Besides just BAD BREATH, dental disease:
Releases bacteria into the bloodstream
Increases risk for heart, liver and kidney disease
Can cause severe pain and problems for your pet
Pets need regular dental cleanings to increase quality and length of life and:
Allows us to chart dental disease over time
Means less time under anesthesia
Reduces need for more advanced and expensive treatment in the future such as teeth extractions and oral surgery
Dental disease is THE most common disease in dogs. Recent studies show that 85% of cats and 92% of dogs over age 3 have periodontal disease.
What Happens During My Pet’s Dental Cleaning?
A thorough dental cleaning can only be accomplished while the pet is under general anesthesia. The anesthesia we use is safe for all animals and your pet is constantly monitored during the dental procedure. Prior to anesthesia, blood tests are performed to help uncover any hidden illnesses. A professional cleaning (sometimes called a prophylaxis) removes plaque and tartar from the teeth. Your pet's entire mouth health (teeth, tongue, gums, and lips) will be examined and assessed.
I noticed a change in my pet’s behavior. Should I see a veterinarian?
Pets cannot tell us how they feel and are able to hide their pain from us (especially cats). Changes in behavior such as appetite change, lethargy, energy level, aggressiveness, inappropriate elimination and vocalization (barking/meowing) can be symptoms of behavior or health issues. Call our vet hospital for an exam appointment right away.
What should I do if I notice fleas or ticks on my pet?
Isolate your pet from other animals and small children to prevent the spread of the parasite to them. Bring your pet to our vet clinic for a thorough testing for parasites. Parasites can most often be easily treated, but parasite preventative measures are best for your pet and your wallet. We have safe and effective parasite prevention products available.
At what age should I have my pet spayed or neutered?
Denton Veterinary Center recommends waiting until your pet is at least 4-6 months of age before seeking a spay or neuter procedure. Contact us to discuss specific details based on species, breed, and size. Spaying/neutering has health and behavior benefits to your pet and of course helps prevent overpopulation.
What are heartworms? How can I prevent my pet from getting heartworms?
One infected mosquito is all it takes to infect your dog with the baby form (larval stage) of the heartworm parasite.
Heartworms are a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets. Twelve-inch-long worms (looks like spaghetti) live in the heart, lungs and blood vessels of infected pets, causing lung disease, heart failure, organ damage and can be fatal if untreated.
How does my pet get heartworms? Heartworms living in an infected dog, cat or wildlife produce baby worms that circulate in the bloodstream. When a mosquito bites an infected animal, it picks up these worms and when it bites another animal, the worms enter through the bite wound. Heartworms can grow and live for 5 - 7 years in dogs and 3 years in cats.
What can I do to protect my pet? Heartworm disease is preventable! Dogs should be tested annually and before starting prevention. Provide heartworm prevention 12 months of the year. Prevention is the safest and most cost-effective option, but treatment is available for dogs (although costly and lengthy). Cats should be tested before starting prevention and re-tested as the veterinarian deems appropriate. There is NO treatment in cats, so prevention is critical and the only means of protection.
Denton Veterinary Center has safe, effective products available that cater to you and your pet's lifestyle and your budget. Heartworm prevention should be provided 12 months of the year.
4 Common Issues After Your Pet Returns Home From Boarding
We get a lot of questions when pets return home after staying with us, whether it be after boarding, daycare, or even surgery. We have decided to write a few of these changes down so you can know what to expect (or at least not be alarmed by). Here are a few of the comments/questions we get…
1) Q: “Oscar is acting like he is starving! Did Oscar get fed while he was there?”
A: Of course!! Oscar was fed the food that his owner brought when he was dropped off, or if his pet owner didn’t drop of his food, Oscar was fed high quality prescription Royal Canin Low Fat Gastrointestinal dry food. Occasionally, pets do not eat as much while they board, so it is “normal” for them to play catch up once they return to their homes.
At daycare, (unless it is a puppy), pets are not fed lunch. Just like my 3-year old son when he gets home from school, they have usually built up a huge appetite playing all day!
Of course, it goes without saying that after a surgery/dental, pets are hungry because they were fasted the morning of the procedure!
2) Q: "Bailey drank a whole bowl of water when she got home... was she allowed to drink water while she was there?"
A: All pets have access to water during their stay. That being said, when they are here just for the day, such as for daycare or grooming/bath, they are given water when they are walked. This is to prevent them from splashing and turning over water bowls in the cages (and getting dirty). It is also normal for pets to feel more comfortable drinking water when they return home.
3) Q: "Fido was really tired and slept the entire evening after I brought him home. He seemed worn out!"
A: Chances are, Fido is worn out! If we did our job, Fido had lots of play time and exercise while boarding or in daycare. There is so much activity in our hospital that Fido is likely over stimulated and excited. Because of this, his sleeping pattern changes in the time he was here with us. He just needs to catch up on his zzzzz’s!! Typically after a good night’s sleep, Fido feels like playing within the next 24 hours. I usually feel like sleeping a lot when I come home from vacation as well!
4) Q: “Maggie’s stool is loose. Has she been having diarrhea while she was there??”
A: First of all, if Maggie was having diarrhea, the staff and doctors would have contacted you and started Maggie on medicine. That is the good thing about boarding your pet at a veterinary hospital…if they develop problems, the issues are addressed immediately.
Secondly, pets often experience excitement when returning home. Plus, they are often rewarded with treats/chews upon arriving home. So this “excitement” leads to colitis, a common cause of loose or watery stool. Some pet owners expect it and we arrange to send home medication to prevent diarrhea.
We take every precaution at Denton Veterinary Center to prevent viruses and parasites from being passed along. Stalls/runs and cages are sterilized with Parvosol and dilute bleach solution. We require dogs to be checked every 6 months for parasites (unlike annually at most vet hospitals). This is the reason: some of the parasites we see are easily spread between dogs (Coccidia and Giardia) and are not prevented by monthly heartworm preventatives. We have staff that clean/scoop fecal material as soon as it hits the ground. See the previous blog about our resort team and the great job they do!
So, to recap, loose stool/diarrhea is common but please let us know if it continues for more than 24 hours.
Our goal and hope is that your pet returns home happy and healthy! Of course, there is always a chance your pet may get sick while at our hospital, but we do everything we can to prevent it. We aim to have smiles and wags all around!
